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A large number of patients are referred to the department who require simple spinal procedures. Simple spinal surgery involves decompressing nerves to reduce pain or improve function. Examples of simple spinal surgery are lumbar microdiscectomy for sciatica, lumbar laminectomy for canal stenosis and cervical foraminotomy for pain down the arm.

Emergency referrals

Neurosurgical On-Call Referrals

All emergency neurosurgery referrals to St George’s Hospital are to be made electronically via a secure on-line web system www.referapatient.org

Please access this webpage and select the ‘make a referral’ button and fill out the necessary information and clinical details. Once submitted, the on-call neurosurgery doctor will be informed of the referral by text and will review and respond at the earliest opportunity. The response will be received as a pdf letter which will be emailed to the (secure) address provided by the referrer.

If you wish to speak to a doctor whilst completing a referral, please contact St George's Hospital switchboard on 020 8672 1255 and ask for the 'On Call Neurosurgery Registrar' or access their bleep (7242) via the automated bleep desk. They may be unable to answer immediately if they are taking another call so please wait for a reply.

It is our experience that the transfer of scans for review can take some time. We therefore recommend contacting PACS transfer teams or radiographers depending on local policy to send any relevant imaging at the earliest opportunity via the Image Exchange Portal (IEP). If your case is urgent then please specify that these scans should be transferred as a 'Blue Light Transfer'.

Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)

St George's Hospital provides a 24 hour advisory service and surgical management for the patients with MSCC. We serve South West London (part of the London Cancer Alliance (LCA)) and the Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Cancer Network (SWSHCN).

MSCC is defined as spinal cord or cauda equina compression by direct pressure and/or induction of vertebral collapse or instability by metastatic spread or direct extension of malignancy that threatens or causes neurological disability.

The 24 hour contact number for the Lead MSCC Co-ordinator at St George’s Hospital is 020 8672 1255 and Bleep 6027

Referring clinicians/local MSCC Co-ordinators will be signposted by the Lead MSCC Co-ordinator/On-call Neurosurgical Registrar to access the South West London MSCC Service Referral Form. This is available here.

This form must be completed electronically and returned to the South West London MSCC Service. The fully completed form should then be e-mailed to stgh-tr.mscc@nhs.net

In the event of server/system disruption or failure, this form should be printed off, completed manually and faxed back to 020 8725 4613.

A copy of the form should also be sent to the Cancer Centre at the same time to provide patient details to allow the Clinical Oncologist to initiate emergency radiotherapy if/once surgery has been excluded.

Please contact the Lead MSCC coordinator and the Clinical Oncologist (or AOS administrator at the local trust) to confirm how the form has been sent (i.e. fax or e-mail)

Mortality data

Consultant outcome publication (COP) is an NHS England initiative to increase transparency within the NHS and to provide the public with information on surgical outcomes. The Neurosurgical National Audit Programme (NNAP) has been mandated by NHS England to publish activity and mortality data for all neurosurgery units and consultant neurosurgeons practising in England.

Wards

Related pages

Make a donation

The Neurosciences Research Foundation funds a huge amount of research at St George's Hospital and St George's University of London. Your donation will help us to develop new life enhancing treatments for patients at St George's. Visit the Neurosciences Research Foundation website for more details.